Co-owner leaves Esquire, Brisbane

Author: Fiona Donnelly
Photography: Courtesy Esquire

12:00AM, Aug 21, 2014

The owners of Brisbane's top-rated restaurant, Esquire, have parted ways. Chef Ryan Squires
described the dissolution of his three-year business partnership
with Cameron Murchison in the fine-diner as amicable but
unavoidable, saying both had developed different visions for the
riverside venue.

"It had to be done. Esquire is a motivated restaurant. We're
trying to be progressive and that doesn't suit all," Squires
says.

Murchison said he was proud of what Esquire had achieved in its
first three years but wanted the restaurant to be "a bit more
commercial" and to appeal to the "bread and butter" corporate
market. Squires says the plan now is to continue with business as
usual at Esquire for the next year but to add a bar in the
courtyard area at the front of the restaurant.

"We've got first rights to this area and the owner wants to
activate the space. I may do this with a friend in Sydney - we're
talking about it," he says.

Pending engineering and architect reports, the restaurant might
then transfer to a new space beneath its current site, which would
be closer to the river, he said "Esquire might move to smaller
premises - and seat 30 people rather than 60. It might become more
Esq (the restaurant's more casual side) and less Esquire. I am
waiting for engineering results and to see if my Sydney friend will
be involved."
Meanwhile, Murchison has secured a site in the western suburbs at
Rosalie Village.

"The concept is still evolving. The split has only just become
official. It doesn't have a name or a chef yet."

Murchison hopes the modern Australian bistro would open in three
to four months. "It won't be too fancy or fine dining, but it won't
be too casual either, and there'll be a bar element," he says.